The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-05
THE SAYFORDss SERVICES.
LARGE CONGREGATIONS AT THE
GOSPEL MEETINGS.
The Lessons To Be Derived from the
Story of tho Prodigal Son The Right
Way for the Youth---Announcements
for Today and Tomorrow,

Inc revival mccuHkS HOW b'llS VoH- |
Quoted by Mr. Sayford werc well attended |
yesterday, there bcinga marked increase
in the attendance at the evening Bible
reading service especially The subject
for Bible study was Goods Promises
The male quartet sang two selections.
The night service was opened with sing
ing by the congregation, the chorus choir
following with the hymn entitled "Guidc
Me-" The Rev. Mr., Long then led in
prayer, after which the male quartet sang
the song, go, May then, Redeemed and
Blcst." There was further prayer and
singing by both choir and quartet. Mr..
Snyford then entered upon his sermon,
taking as his subject the story OF the prod
igal son. lie said: al remember sign
that when | was lad made a marked inn
preston ON my mind-a sign over bust.
ness place, the like ol which some
OF YOU have seen, and ! remember how
used 10 look at IT, Gong one way ] read
the word Findings, and at another stand
point could read Leather, aud II should
30 up little way | could see the word
Morocco. | have sometimes thought
that this parable of the prodigal son is like
that sight is many sided. There are
scores Of pictures in this parable Nearly
every minister can draw from il very many
lessons. One il the picture Of the hack
slider. There are two kinds Of backslidcrs
shown in this parable. The one who ~
manned at home was backslidcr. lie was
mean sort of chap. lie wasn't satisfied
with his share of goods which, according
10 Jewish custom, being the eldest son, he
was entitled TO. You will notice
in the reading OF the parable the
word 'sons'-there were two sOns-bOth
were sons Now, II is said Of the younger
son he went off he was oil, anyhow; sin
ners are always of. lie wasted his sub
stance-joined himself Ia citizen Of u far
country and this citizen set him TO feeding
swine II was the meancst occupation for
jew 10 perform. Very soon he began Ia
repent and 10 soliloqui2c, and finally
makes up his mind 10 20 back TO his
father. lie il now willing Ia assume the
most mental position in hs fathers house
hold. The cardinal points with reference
to this young man are his seli.will, his
folly. his misery and his repentance.
His will-bccausc he was bound IN have u
good time ut any cost. How many here
are like him in the world today There
are BOYS, for instance, that don't want To
he talked to and who would just like Ia
have their share and get away from home,
home restrictions and home influences.
folly-in the disposition he made Of the
substance he received Plenty 1T such in
the world today. Many boys say: Let's
have good time. Never mind
the consequences. Wen spend the
money while il lasts. llurmh, boysl'
| Ills misery the awiiIDcss uf his position
away from home and friends in far
country. Then the most beautiful picture
Of nll-his repentance. The hinge upon
/ which the whole thing turns was when he
came TO himself. When lac came To him
self lac saw his folly, saw what hc had
brought upon himself, came To thin" I
home, came la cal1e what lac had at
Al last the man COMES out oh, God
have merry uppn me- My friends III,
broad road leads downward. IL Is hill al
the WAY down aud IL is he'll ut the bottom
and. II YOU turn, remember You hay,
to travel back up the hill again
Now, this young man came Ia himself
anil naturally enough his iipt thought
WAS of home. Notice his resolution: j
| will arise aud ~ "a my father Their
was the good resolution. lie says, In his
confession, Father, have sinned against
heaven aud before thee and am no worthy
| to be- called thy son; make mo ~ one d
the hired servants lie had Ia wall
| home. Went out on horse, but thai
WIS pawncd of long ago lie had 10 loot
Il all the way lie will bc perfectly will
Ing 10 he ~ a hired servant. hayer som"
times imagined could zee him, NJ h'
climbs hill after hill, IN iootnor
aud weary condition, aud nj las
reaches a hill from which he catches !
glimpse Of home nlar oii; and, standing
there, perhaps wonders whether mother i
alive or dead and then lac comes dow
the hillside, and the father, seeing him
long distance away, comes out 10 NEE
him-runs 90 greet him, and wclcomo
him with kisses. Let ~ see what he lost
lie los, his family name. lie lost his cn
yironmcnts lost his surroundings. Then
was no longer the sacred influences oi ia
sacrament. lie lost his good garments
Just ~ christian may lose his christian
panoply.
"llo got something 10y going away. ~
rot poverty and bruised body. maj
that goes away from God gets poverty an
a bruised heart lie got the poorest kim
Of companions. don't know oi an
other companions hc had except hogs. y
man gave him anything. In nSlung
land among stmngrrs But there are som
things lac had not lost. lie had not lo'
his sonship. A man born oi the spirit
Almighty God, though away from God
does not lose his sunship. The lathe
meeting his son sayg This, my Hpn, WI
lost and In found The young man Ill
not lose thoughts NJ home nor the know
edge Of the way hack. And nnpth,
: thing. he did not lose his fathers love
That fact ought a. melt your hearts, ~
2 hearrnt. and that II Gods lovc' We ~
. what the young man gained 10y returning
lie gained the tcnicrst expressions oi 10
. fathers love. Aud then he gpt the o'
!, change Of garments What picture
y this Of what God gives NJ IN exchange i
y the rags II our avn iithlcousnerS an
. hc got u ring not common ring Vl rini'
value, but ring ul grrat WORTH hhNli
q the family seal thereon. And Shoes WEI
u put upon his feet that he might he iulI
u sapthed, aud this IL Indicative at the con
" plrte restoration that God gives thruup
n rcpcniencc and belief IN the Lord jest
Christ"
c The speaker cl,.rd 10y M earnest appe
:. 10 all present a. wNc themselves mp lnl
u 20 Christ. MANY persons arose, lhl
y maniicsting the d,-irc To become chr
N tians.
It DR. Richardson then followed by
fcrycnt prayer.
10 There win lc up services today, Snln
d day. On SUNDAY their will he a meet,
N for men only II $3.50 O'clock, when N
re- Sayiod will take ~ his text, "Wh
Al Think We of Christ" This service "
" special request Of those who listened
10 tho same soruun last sunday, and vi
n, desire that Their friends should hear H.
N There will be- lhc usual night service
10 100 o'clock. 1890,
Of Both meeting will h. held ~ the Cou